The Jehovah's Witnesses - Way of Life Literature

versions, including the Living Bible, New Living Bible,Today’s English Version, New International Version,New American Standard Version, The Message, and theHolman Christian Standard Bible.CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC: SOMEQUESTIONS ANSWERED AND SOME WARNINGSGIVEN, ISBN 1-58318-094-x. This book expounds onfive reasons why we are opposed to CCM: It is worldly;it is ecumenical; it is charismatic; it is experienceoriented;and it weakens the fundamentalist stance ofchurches. We give examples of how changes areoccurring in formerly fundamentalist churches throughthe instrumentality of contemporary music. The rest ofthe book deals with questions that are commonly askedon this subject, such as the following: What is thedifference between using contemporary worship musicand using old hymns that were interdenominational?Didn't Luther and the Wesleys use tavern music? Isn't theissue of music just a matter of taste? Doesn't the Bibleencourage us to use cymbals and stringed and loudsounding instruments? What is wrong with soft rock?Didn't God create all music? Love is more important thandoctrine and standards of living, isn't it? Since God lookson the heart, why are you concerned about appearance?Isn't Christianity all about grace? What about all of theyoung people who are being saved through CCM?7

ISRAEL: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE, ISBN978-1-58318-116-4. This is a package consisting of a234-page illustrated book, a DVD series, and a series ofPowerpoint/Keynote presentations for teachers. Thepackage covers all of the major facets pertaining to Israelin a professional, technologically cutting-edge way:geography, culture, archaeology, history, current events,and prophecy. The series begins with an amazing aerialflyover over the land of Israel.KEEPING THE KIDS: HOW TO KEEP THECHILDREN FROM FALLING PREY TO THEWORLD, ISBN 978-1-58318-115-7. This book aims tohelp parents and churches raise children to be disciples ofJesus Christ and to avoid the pitfalls of the world, theflesh, and the devil. The book is a collaborative effort. Itcontains testimonies from hundreds of individuals whoprovided feedback to our questionnaires on this subject,as well as powerful ideas gleaned from interviews withpastors, missionaries, and church people who have raisedgodly children. The book is packed with practicalsuggestions and deals with many issues: Conversion, thehusband-wife relationship, the necessity of permeatingthe home with Christian love, mothers as keepers athome, the father’s role as the spiritual head of the home,child discipline, separation from the pop culture,8

ISBN 1-58318-099-0. This book begins with the author’sown experience with the Pentecostal movement. The nextsection deals with the history of the Pentecostalmovement, beginning with a survey of miraculous signsfrom the second to the 18th centuries. We deal withCharles Parham, Azusa Street Mission, major Pentecostalhealing evangelists, the Sharon Schools and the NewOrder of the Latter Rain, the Word-Faith movement andits key leaders, the Charismatic Movement, the RomanCatholic Charismatic Renewal, the Pentecostal Prophets,the Third Wave, the Laughing-Drunken Revival ofToronto, Pensacola, Lakeland, etc., and the recentPentecostal scandals. The last section deals with thetheological errors of the Pentecostal-Charismaticmovements.REPENTANCE AND SOUL WINNING, ISBN1-58318-062-1. This is an in-depth study on biblicalrepentance and a timely warning about unscripturalmethods of presenting the gospel. The opening chapter,entitled “Fundamental Baptists and Quick Prayerism: AFaulty Method of Evangelism Has Produced a Change inthe Doctrine of Repentance,” traces the change in thedoctrine of repentance among fundamental Baptistsduring the past 50 years.10

SEEING THE NON-EXISTENT: EVOLUTION’SMYTHS AND HOAXES, ISBN 1-58318-002-8. (newtitle for 2011) This book is designed both as a stand alonetitle as well as a companion to the apologetics course ANUNSHAKEABLE FAITH. The contents are as follows:Canals on Mars, Charles Darwin and His Granddaddy,Thomas Huxley: Darwin’s Bulldog, Ernst Haeckel:Darwin’s German Apostle, Icons of Evolution, Icons ofCreation, The Ape-men, Predictions, Questions forEvolutionists, Darwinian Gods, Darwin’s SocialInfluence.THINGS HARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD: AHANDBOOK OF BIBLICAL DIFFICULTIES, ISBN1-58318-002-8. This very practical volume deals with awide variety of biblical difficulties. Find the answer tothe seeming contradictions in the Bible. Meet thechallenge of false teachers who misuse biblical passagesto prove their doctrine. Find out the meaning of difficultpassages that are oftentimes overlooked in the Biblecommentaries. Our objective is to help God’s peoplehave confidence in the inerrancy of their Bibles and toprotect them from the false teachers that abound in theselast days. Jerry Huffman, editor of Calvary Contender,testified: “You don’t have to agree with everything togreatly benefit from this helpful book.”11

AN UNSHAKEABLE FAITH: A CHRISTIANAPOLOGETICS COURSE, ISBN 978-1-58318-119-5.(new title for 2011) The course is built upon nearly 40years of serious Bible study and 30 years of apologeticswriting. Research was done in the author’s personal6,000-volume library plus in major museums and otherlocations in America, England, Europe, Australia, Asia,and the Middle East. The package consists of anapologetics course entitled AN UNSHAKEABLE FAITH(both print and eBook editions) plus an extensive seriesof Powerpoint/Keynote presentations. (Keynote is theApple version of Powerpoint.) The 1,800 PowerPointslides deal with archaeology, evolution/creation science,and the prophecies pertaining to Israel’s history. Thematerial in the 360-page course is extensive, and theteacher can decide whether to use all of it or to selectonly some portion of it for his particular class andsituation. After each section there are review questions tohelp the students focus on the most important points. Thecourse can be used for private study as well as for aclassroom setting. Sections include The Bible’s Nature,The Bible’s Proof, The Dead Sea Scrolls, The Bible’sDifficulties, Historical Evidence for Jesus, Evidence forChrist’s Resurrection, Archaeological TreasuresConfirming the Bible, A History of Evolution, Icons ofEvolution, Icons of Creation, Noah’s Ark and the GlobalFlood.12

WAY OF LIFE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE BIBLE &CHRISTIANITY, ISBN 1-58318-005-2. This lovelyhardcover Bible Encyclopedia contains 640 pages(8.5X11) of information, with more than 6,000 entries,and 7,000 cross-references. It is a complete dictionary ofbiblical terminology and features many other areas ofresearch not often covered in Bible reference volumes.Subjects include Bible versions, Denominations, Cults,Christian Movements, Typology, the Church, SocialIssues and Practical Christian Living, Bible Prophecy,and Old English Terminology. An evangelist in SouthDakota wrote: “If I were going to the mission field andcould carry only three books, they would be the Strong’sconcordance, a hymnal, and the Way of Life BibleEncyclopedia.” Missionary author Jack Moorman says:“The encyclopedia is excellent. The entries show a‘distilled spirituality.’” A computer edition of theEncyclopedia is available as a standalone eBook for PDF,Kindle, and PUB. It is also available as a module forSwordseacher.Way of Life LiteratureP.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.orgwww.wayoflife.org13

HistoryThe Jehovah’s Witnesses arose within the end-timefervor of the latter half of the 19th century that producedthe Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-daySaints) and the Seventh-day Adventists as well as thePentecostal Latter Rain theology.Charles Taze RussellThe Jehovah’s Witnesses originated in America withCharles Taze Russell (1852-1916).Russell had been a Presbyterian, a Congregationalist, andan Adventist before he formed the Jehovah’s Witnesses.In the 1870s he organized a Bible study and by 1880there were 30 congregations following his teaching.In 1879, he began publishing a magazine called TheWatchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.In 1884, he incorporated the Zion’s Watch Tower TractSociety.He published his doctrine in six books called Studies inthe Scriptures.14

He claimed to be the “Seventh Messenger” of Revelation10:7.In 1909, the headquarters was moved to Brooklyn, NewYork.Russell falsely predicted that Armageddon would occurby 1916.His wife divorced him in 1911 because of his immoralrelations with other women.Russell claimed that he could read Greek, but in a courtof law he was shown to be a liar in that he could notdecipher even the basic Greek alphabet.Russell died in 1916. He had traveled more than onemillion miles, preached 30,000 times, authored morethan 50,000 pages of material. More than 20 millioncopies of his books and booklets had been distributed.Joseph RutherfordJoseph F. Rutherford became president upon the death ofRussell and led the organization until 1942. Under hisleadership, it grew quickly.15

In 1931, Rutherford changed the name of theorganization to Jehovah’s Witnesses. In the early days,they were known as Russellites, Millennial Dawn People,and International Bible Students.Rutherford predicted that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacobwould be resurrected in 1925 and he built them amansion — which he occupied when the patriarchs didn’tshow up!Rutherford was an alcoholic.16

Miscellaneous FactsJehovah’s Witnesses take their name from Isaiah43:10-11, which actually refers to Israel.“I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is nosaviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I haveshewed, when there was no strange god among you:therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that Iam God” (Isaiah 43:11-12).The Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) have a centralizedleadership, with the congregations closely directed fromthe headquarters in New York City.The Jehovah’s Witnesses are very aggressive inpromoting their beliefs, with churches and missionariesthroughout the world.To witness for the organization is considered a necessarypart of one’s salvation. Every JW is expected to gowitnessing at least once a week and must turn in a report.Individual Witnesses are called Publishers. They spendan average of four hours per week in this work.Full-time preachers give at least 90 hours per month toproclaiming the JW faith. There are 700,000 of thesetoday.17

In 2000, Jehovah’s Witnesses spent 1.1 billion hours invarious evangelistic activities in 235 countries, includingthe distribution of over 700 million pieces of printedmaterial, and thousands of audio and videocassettes.It takes many hours to produce one convert. In Japan,17,415 hours are required for every baptism. In Canada,8,195 hours are required; in Germany, 7,042; in Russia,2,416; in India, 2,312 hours.Their meetinghouses are called Kingdom Halls. EachHall divides its community into sectors and assigns thesectors to individual witnesses.They have five meetings per week, as follows:On Sunday they usually have two services. One is calledthe Public Talk, during which an elder gives a sermon ortalk. After that they usually have the Watchtower Study,which is a lesson based on an article in the currentWatchtower magazine.During a weekday, they have the Theocratic MinistrySchool, which is devoted to practice in witnessing. Theyteach the Witnesses how to answer challenges andquestions that typically encounter find while doorknocking. Following this, they usually have the Service18

Meeting. This involves training in matters pertaining tothe congregation.At another time during the week, they have the BookStudy, during which they study Watchtower teachingsfrom various JW books.The JWs have produced an amazing amount of literature.The Watchtower, the official JW journal, has a circulationof more than 22 million in 129 languages.More than one billion Bibles, books, and leaflets havebeen distributed in at least 176 languages since 1920.There are approximately 6 million Jehovah’s Witnessesin 93,000 congregations in 235 countries.The JW organization is called the “faithful and discreetslave” of Jehovah and is often called merely the “slave.”The JW organization is called the “mother.” “If we are towalk in the light of truth we must recognize not onlyJehovah God as our Father but his organization as ourmother” (The Watchtower, May 1, 1957, p. 274).19

They teach that no one can be saved apart from the JWorganization. All other groups of Christians are calledBabylon the Great and it is said that they will bedestroyed at Armageddon. “To receive everlasting life inthe earthly Paradise we must identify that organizationand serve God as part of it” (The Watchtower, Feb. 15,1983, p. 12).The JW organization is not to be criticized. “We will not‘forsake our mother’s teaching’ by immediatelybeginning to criticize and find fault. We will realize thatJehovah knows what is going on in his organization, andif he is willing to permit it, who are we to insist it shouldbe different?” (The Watchtower, May 1, 1957, p. 284).Those who leave the JWs are called apostates. They arecompletely shunned. The JWs do not talk to them or haveanything to do with them. In fact, they are to be hated.Jehovah’s Witnesses do not take blood transfusions,believing this falls under the Bible’s prohibition againsteating blood.Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse to give allegiance to anynation’s flag, join the military, run for political office, orvote in elections.20

DoctrinesAbout Jehovah GodAccording to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, there is no Trinity;God’s only name is Jehovah, and He created Jesus.“Never was there a more deceptive doctrine advancedthan that of the trinity. It could have originated only inone mind, and that the mind of Satan theDevil” (Reconciliation, 1928, p. 101).WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHESThe Bible teaches the doctrine of the Trinity: that there isone God revealed in three Persons. Webster’s 1828Dictionary: “The Trinity is the union of three persons(the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) in oneGodhead, so that all the three are one God as tosubstance, but three persons as to individuality.”1. The term “trinity” is not in the Bible, but the doctrineis (Mt. 28:19; Jn. 14:16,26; 16:7-15; 2 Co. 13:14; Eph.4:4-6; 1 Jn. 5:7).2. The O.T. teaches that God is one in a plurality.21

Though the Old Testament does not fully reveal thedoctrine of the Trinity, it does teach that God is aplurality. It is left for the New Testament to open up thisrevelation more fully.Genesis 1:1. The Hebrew word for God here is elohim.This is a plural noun, but the verb is singular, teachingthat there is one God in a plurality.Genesis 1:26. Again God is spoken of as plural, elohim,yet we know from other O.T. passages that God is one(De. 6:4).Genesis 11:6-7. Here again God is spoken of in the pluraland in the singular at the same time.Deuteronomy 6:4. This verse could be translated,“Jehovah our elohim is a united Jehovah.” The word“one” refers to a unity. The same word for one is used inGen. 2:24, speaking of the oneness of a husband andwife. This verse summarizes the Bible’s teaching aboutGod. He is one but exists in three Persons.Psalm 45:6-7. According to Hebrews 1:8-9, God theFather is speaking in Psalm 45, and He is referring to theSon as God. Sometimes people ask, “If Jesus Himselfwas God, why did He address the Father as God?” The22

answer is that Jesus addressed the Father as God for thesame reason that the Father addressed the Son as God—because they are both God!Isaiah 48:16. Here the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, isspeaking and referring to God the Father and the HolySpirit (compare Jn. 18:20).About Jesus Christ1. According to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jesus is notGod but was created by Jehovah God. He is “a god” anda “mighty God” (Is. 9:6), but he is not Almighty JehovahGod.“One’s being in the image of God and according to hislikeness would never mean that one was the equal ofJehovah God. An ‘image’ is not the real thing” (God's“Eternal Purpose” Now Triumphing For Man’s Good,1974; p. 37).2. Jesus was supposedly Michael the Archangel beforeHe came to earth.“There is Scriptural evidence for concluding thatMichael was the name of Jesus Christ before he leftheaven and after his return” (The Watchtower, May15, 1969, p. 307).3. While on earth Jesus was a perfect man but not God.23

“When on the earth, he was not a divine god-man. Hewas wholly human, though perfect, as Adam originallywas. Since Jesus' resurrection, he has been anexalted immortal spirit ever subordinate to God” (TheWatchtower, Jan 15, 1992, p. 23).4. Jesus has no physical resurrection body, only a spiritbody; He only appeared to have a body.“He was the first to be raised as a spirit person” (YouCan Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, 1982, p. 172).“Our Lord's human body was, however, supernaturallyremoved from the tomb; because had it remainedthere it would have been an insurmountable obstacleto the faith of the disciples, who were not yetinstructed in spiritual things — for ‘the spirit was notyet given.’ (John 7:39) We know nothing about whatbecame of it, except that it did not decay or corrupt.(Acts 2:27, 31) Whether it was dissolved into gassesor whether it is still preserved somewhere as thegrand memorial of God’s love, of Christ's obedience,and of our redemption, no one knows; — nor is suchknowledge necessary” (The Time Is at Hand, 1889,1915 ed., p. 129).“The bodies in which Jesus manifested himself to hisdisciples after his return to life were not the body inwhich he was nailed to the tree. They were merelymaterialized for the occasion, resembling on one ortwo occasions the body in which he died, but on themajority of occasions being unrecognizable by hismost intimate disciples” (The Kingdom Is at Hand,1944, p. 259).24

5. When Jesus rose from the dead, he was again Michaelthe Archangel and he is no longer a man.WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES1. Jesus Christ is GodEverything said about God in the Old Testament is alsosaid about Jesus Christ in the New Testament.Title Jehovah JesusKing of kings Ps. 95:3 1 Ti. 6:14-15Lord of lords Ps. 136:3 Re. 19:16Stone stumbling Is. 8:13-15 1 Pet. 2:6-8Judge Is. 24:20-21 He. 12:23 Col. 1:17Reigning Is. 24:23 Mt. 25:31Good Shepherd Is. 40:10-11 Jn. 10:11Only Savior Is. 43:11 2 Ti. 1:10Alpha Omega Is. 44:6 Re. 1:7-18Creator Is. 44:24 Col. 1:16Every knee bow Is. 45:23 Ph. 2:10-11The Old Testament prophets foretold that the Messiahwould be God (compare Isa. 7:14 and Mat. 1:23; Isa. 9:6;Jer. 23:5-6).25

Jesus claimed to be God (Jn. 5:17-18; 8:58-59; 10:30-33)and he accepted worship (Mt. 2:11; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33;15:25; 20:20; 28:9,17). If Jesus were not God He couldnot receive worship (Ex. 20:3-5; 34:10; Is. 42:8; Mt.4:10).The New Testament writers said Jesus Christ is God (Jn.1:1; 10:36; Ph. 2:6; Col. 1:15; 2:9; 1 Ti. 1:15-17; 3:16;6:14-16; He. 1:3; Tit. 2:13; 1 Jn. 3:16).God the Father calls the Son God and the Son calls theFather God (compare Hebrews 1:8-9 and Psalm 45). Thisis the mystery of the Trinity. Though we do not fullyunderstand it, we believe it because it is the teaching ofScripture.Isaiah 43:10 says Jehovah God did not form another Godand Deuteronomy 32:39 says there is no god withJehovah God. Thus, the JW teaching that Jesus is “agod” (New World Translation rendering of John 1:1)cannot be true.Compare Isaiah 9:6 with Isaiah 10:21. JWs say Jesus wasthe “mighty God” but not the Almighty God, but Isaiah10:21 calls Jehovah God the “mighty God.” (See also Ps.50:1; 132:2, 5; Jer. 32:18; Hab. 1:12.)26

Compare Isaiah 43:7 with Colossians 1:16. If everythingwas created for Jehovah God’s glory, why doesColossians 1:16 say that everything was created forJesus?It was God who was pierced on the cross (Zech. 12:10)and His blood that was shed (Acts 20:28).2. Jesus Christ had no beginning (Micah 5:2; Col. 1:17;1 John 1:2).3. Jesus Christ created ALL things (Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16).4. Jesus Christ rose bodily (Lk. 24:36-43; Jn. 2:18-21;20:26-27).5. Jesus Christ is a man after His resurrection (Acts17:31; 1 Tim. 2:5).About the Holy SpiritAccording to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Holy Spirit isnot a person but is a force like electricity (TheWatchtower, Sept. 15, 1992, p. 16).WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES27

1. The Holy Spirit is called a person and does the worksof a person (Jn. 14:17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-15).2. The Holy Spirit has His own feelings (Ep. 4:30).3. The Holy Spirit has His own will (Ac. 13:2; 15:28; 1Co. 12:11).4. The Holy Spirit has His own mind (Ro. 8:26-27).About Salvation1. According to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, salvation is byfaith PLUS works.“What things are involved in getting ‘saved’? (Acts16:30) The prime requirement is: ‘Believe on the LordJesus and you will get saved.’ (Acts 16:31) Thisinvolves taking in accurate knowledge of God’spurposes and his way of salvation. Then faith has tobe exercised in Jesus Christ as the Chief Agent ofsalvation. (John 3:16; Titus 2:14) This places theChristian in a saved condition, but he must nowpersevere in doing God’s will and continue to adhereto all of God’s requirements for the rest of his life. Onlythen will he be saved to eternal life. (Matthew24:13)” (The Watchtower, Dec. 15, 1989, p. 30).2. There are two categories of the saved:28

First, there is the “anointed remnant” composed of the144,000 (Revelation 7). This group was supposedlycompleted by the 1930s. Only these will go to heavenand only these are born again.They are called the “anointed remnant” and the partakersof the “new covenant.” “The new covenant will terminatewith the glorification of the remnant who are today inthat covenant mediated by Christ. The ‘great crowd’ of‘other sheep’ that is forming today is not in that newcovenant” (The Watchtower, April 1, 1979, p. 31).They are supposed to be the priesthood of Melchizedek.Only the 144,000 “anointed remnant” partake of theLord’s SupperThey are changed to spirit creatures when they die.The members of the 144,000 that have died are allegedlyguiding the work of God from heaven.The rest of the Jehovah’s Witnesses compose the “GreatCrowd” or “Other Sheep” which is taken fromRevelation 7:9.29

According to JW doctrine, these are not born again.Christ is not their mediator. They do not have the HolySpirit. They will never go to heaven but will live foreveron a glorified earth. They are not children of God untilthey are resurrected and pass the final test during themillennium. They cannot partake of the Lord’s supper inthis life.WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES1. Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace without works(John 3:16-18; Acts 16:30-31; Rom. 3:19-24; 4:1-8; 11:6;Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-8).2. The 144,000 of Revelation 7 are of the 12 tribes ofIsrael during the Tribulation. They are Jews.3. There are not classes of believers (Jn. 17:5-6, 20-21;Eph. 2:18-22).Ephesians 4:4-6 teaches there is only one body, one hope,one calling, one faith.All believers have the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9).All believers partake of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11).30

All believers in Christ are born again (1 John 5:1).1 Peter 1:1-5 teaches the following doctrine:All believers are the elect of God vv. 1-2.All are born again v. 3All have a living hope v. 3All have an inheritance in heaven v. 4All are kept by God’s power v. 54. The believer’s home is in heaven (Jn. 14:1-3; Col.1:4-5; Col. 3:1-4; Heb. 3:1; 12:22-24; 1 Pet. 1:4).5. Those who mind earthly things are false teachers(Phil. 3:18-20)..About the Bible1. According to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Bible isinspired of God but it is a closed book except toJehovah’s remnant who are taught by the JWorganization.“Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannotsee the Divine Plan in studying the Bible by itself, butwe see, also, that if anyone lays the Scripture Studies[the writings of Charles Russell] aside, even after hehas used them, after he has become familiar withthem, after he has read them for ten years — if he31

lays them aside and ignores them and goes to theBible alone, though he has understood his Bible forten years, our experience shows that within two yearshe goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he hadmerely read the Scripture Studies with theirreferences, and had not read a page of the Bible, assuch, he would be in the light at the end of the twoyears, because he would have the light of theScriptures” (The Watchtower, Sept. 15, 1910, p. 298;see also The Watchtower, June 15, 1951, p. 375;Riches, 1936, pp. 106, 167; New Heavens and a NewEarth, 1953, p. 18).“Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongsto the Christian congregation as an organization, notto individuals, regardless of how sincerely they maybelieve that they can interpret the Bible. For thisreason the Bible cannot be properly understoodwithout Jehovah’s visible organization in mind” (TheWatchtower, Oct. 1, 1967, p. 587; The Watchtower,July 1, 1973, p. 402).“Jehovah God has also provided his visibleorganization, his ‘faithful and discreet slave,’ made upof spirit anointed ones, to help Christians in all nationsto understand and apply properly the Bible in theirlives. Unless we are in touch with this channel ofcommunication that God is using, we will not progressalong the road to life, no matter how much Biblereading we do” (The Watchtower, Dec. 1, 1981, p. 27).2. The JW organization teaches that they are given “newlight” from God from time to time, and that they canchange their doctrine based on this new light. This is howthey have explained the many changes through the years.32

“Things published were not perfect in the days ofCharles Taze Russell, first president of the WatchTower Bible and Tract Society; nor were they perfectin the days of J.F. Rutherford, the succeedingpresident. The increasing light on God’s Word as wellas the facts of history have repeatedly required thatadjustments of one kind or another be made down tothe very present time. But let us never forget that themotives of this ‘slave’ were always pure, unselfish; atall times it has been well-meaning” (The Watchtower,March 1, 1979, p. 24).3. The JWs have their own Bible, the New WorldTranslation of the Holy Scriptures.It was published in 1961 and is available in whole or inpart in some 15 languages with plans to expand thetranslation into 30 more languages.None of the five translators knew Hebrew or Greek. Themain translator, Fred Franz, lied to a court in Edinburgh,Scotland, in November 1954, and said he knew Hebrew,but he failed a simple test (Ron Rhodes, Reasoning fromthe Scriptures with the Jehovah's Witnesses, 1993, pp.97-98). Franz was the fourth President of the JWs.The New World Translation perverts every passage thatdeals with the deity of Jesus Christ. Following areexamples:33

John 1:1 says “the word was a god.”Colossians 1:15-17 the JW Bible adds the word “other”four times — i.e., “for by him were all [other] thingscreated…”In Hebrews 1:8 the JW Bible changes “Thy throne, OGod” to “God is your throne.”In Zechariah 12:10, the JW Bible changes “they shalllook upon me whom they have pierced” to “they shalllook upon the one they have pierced,” because they don’twant to admit that Jehovah God died on the cross.Prior to the publication of their own English translationin 1961, the Jehovah’s Witnesses published the AmericanStandard Version (ASV). It is a simple matter to find thereason for this. The Unitarians associated with the ASVtranslation project, such as Ezra Abbot and J. HenryThayer (who was secretary of the New TestamentCommittee), held the same view of Christ as theJehovah’s Witnesses. And the critical Greek textunderlying the ASV weakened key passages touchingChrist’s deity. A footnote at John 9:38, where the manworshipped Christ, says, “The Greek word denotes an actof reverence, whether paid to a creature (AS HERE) or to34

the Creator...” This is from an edition of the AmericanStandard Version printed by the Watchtower Bible andTract Society in about 1929. The Jehovah’s Witnessesalso published the Westcott-Hort Greek New Testament.WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES1. The believer has the Holy Spirit as his Teacher and isnot dependent upon man (1 Jn. 2:20-27).2. The Christian faith was settled during the days of theApostles (Jude 3).3. The Bible is complete and sufficient (2 Tim. 3:16-17).It is able to make the man of God perfect, throughlyfurnished unto all good works.4. The Jehovah’s Witness translation is a perversionproduced by a convicted liar who was unqualified totranslate the Bible.About HellAccording to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, hell is only thegrave:“Of course, the prophets Moses and Elijah were notactually there with Jesus on that lofty mountain when35

he was thus transformed before the three apostles.Moses and Elijah were still dead, still in Hades, thecommon grave of mankind. What the three apostlessaw was merely a vision, not an actuality” (Let YourName Be Sanctified, 1961, p. 250).WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHESThe Bible word “hell” has two meanings:1. Sometimes the Old Testament word for hell, Sheol,describes the grave (Ps. 6:5; Ec. 9:10; Is. 38:18,19). (Thecommon Hebrew word for the grave is not sheol, butgeburah. This word is used in such passages as Ge.35:20; 50:5; Nu. 19:16; 2 Sa. 3:32; 1 Ki. 13:30.)2. Hell also refers to the place where departed spirits goThis is true in the Old Testament (De. 32:22; Pr. 9:18;23:14; Eze. 31:16; 32:21).This is also true in the New Testament for the Greekword “hades” (Mk. 9:43-48).3. The doctrine of life after death was not fully revealeduntil the gospel (2 Tim. 1:10).About Death36

According to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, at death, the soulsleeps until resurrection. It does not journey to heaven orto hell (which they say is just the grave).WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES1. The Old Testament teaches that death is a journey (Ge.25:8; 35:18; Nu. 27:13; 2 Sa. 12:23; 1 Ki. 17:21-22).2. The New Testament also teaches that death is adeparture of the spirit from the body to anotherconscious realm of existence.The body is distinct from the spirit (1 Th. 5:23; see alsoMk. 14:38; 1 Co. 6:20; 2 Co. 12:2).It is the body that dies (Jam. 2:26).Paul’s testimony was that death is a journey (2 Co. 5:6-7;see also Ph. 1:23, 24; 2 Ti. 4:6).Peter testified that at death he would put off his body (2Pe. 1:14).The story of Lazarus and the rich man shows that death isa departure (Lk. 16:22-23). We do not believe this is aparable because of the proper names Jesus used. Yet,37

even if it were allowed that this is a parable, it would stillteach literal truth, as did all of Christ’s parables.The dead saints are said to return with Christ fromheaven at the time of the resurrection and rapture of thesaved. This shows that dead saints go to Heaven at death(1 Th. 4:14).John’s heavenly visions show dead saints in Heavenbefore the resurrection and during the Great Tribulationon earth (Re. 6:9-11).Moses’ appearance on the Mount of Transfigurationproves that the dead have conscious existence betweendeath and resurrection (Mt. 17:1-3; Lk. 9:30-31).3. False teachers twist Scripture out of context to provetheir false doctrine. For example, Jehovah’s Witnessesuse verses such as Ecc. 9:5 — “the dead know not anything.” They do not consider the context of the verse.Ecclesiastes was written to teach what man thinks apartfrom God’s revelation. The key passage is “under thesun,” because it shows man’s philosophy in this life apartfrom divine revelation. Thus, from the perspective of thislife, the dead are finished; they do not know anything;they have ceased to exist. But when we look at deathfrom the perspective of divine revelation, we know that38

the dead do know something, that they are consciouseither in heaven or in hell. Even the book of Ecclesiastesitself, in its conclusion, says that death is a journey (Ecc.12:7).About Eternal PunishmentAccording to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Satan and theunsaved are not punished eternally but are annihilated,burned up in the lake of fire. They teach that the effect ofthe punishment is eternal but not the pain andconsciousness of the punishment.“Yes, the destruction of the gross sinners in thosecities [Sodom and Gomorrah] was eternal, as will bethe destruction of the wicked at the end of the presentsystem of things” (The Watchtower, April 15, 1990, p.20).WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES1. The suffering in hell and the lake of fire is eternal(Mat. 25:46; Mk. 9:43-48; Rev. 14:10; 20:10).2. If annihilation is true, Jesus’ words to Judas make nosense (Mat. 26:24). He warned that divine judgment ismuch worse than a violent death.39

About the Return of ChristAccording to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christ’s returnwas not physical but was spiritual and occurred in 1914.From then on, he began to rule invisibly as king of theearth.WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES1. Christ’s return will be bodily just as He ascended(Acts 1:11).2. At Christ’s return, every eye shall see Him (Mat.24:30; Rev. 1:7).3. At Christ’s return, His feet will touch Jerusalem (Zech.14:4).40

False Prophecies“And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know theword which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophetspeaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follownot, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORDhath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken itpresumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid ofhim” (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).Jehovah’s Witness leaders have marked themselves asfalse teachers by their false prophecies.JW leaders prophesied that the millennium would beganin October 1872.“We are already living in the seventh millennium —since October 1872” (The Time Is At Hand, 1889;1915 ed., p. 363; also Thy Kingdom Come, WatchTower Bible and Tract Society, 1905, p. 127).They prophesied that the battle of Armageddon ended in1914 and God’s kingdom began.“...the ‘battle of the great day of GodAlmighty’ (Revelation 16:14), which will end in A.D.1914 with the complete overthrow of earth’s presentrulership, is already commenced” (The Time Is atHand, 1908 edition, p. 101).41

“In view of this strong Bible evidence concerning theTimes of the Gentiles, we consider it an establishedtruth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world,and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God, willbe accomplished at the end of A. D. 1914” (The TimeIs At Hand, 1889, 1908 ed., p. 99).They prophesied that the kingdom of God would beestablished in 1915.“In view of this strong Bible evidence concerning theTimes of the Gentiles, we consider it an establishedtruth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world,and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God, willbe accomplished near the end of A.D. 1915” (TheTime Is At Hand, 1889, 1915 ed., p. 99; see also p.242).They prophesied that the millennium would begin in1925.“Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 willmark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and thefaithful prophets of old, particularly those named bythe Apostle in Hebrews 11, to the condition of humanperfection” (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, p. 89).“The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated bythe Scriptures than 1914” (The Watchtower, Sept. 1,1922, p. 262).42

They prophesied that the millennium would begin in1975.“According to this trustworthy Bible chronology sixthousand years from man’s creation will end in 1975,and the seventh period of a thousand years of humanhistory will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E” (LifeEverlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God, WatchTower Bible and Tract Society, 1966, p. 29; the date isalso listed in chart on page 35; see also, TheWatchtower, Oct. 15, 1969, p. 623; The ApproachingPeace of a Thousand Years, pp. 26-27; KingdomMinistry, March 1968, p. 4).They prophesied that Armageddon would begin beforethe end of the 20th century.“Shortly, within our twentieth century, the ‘battle in theday of Jehovah’ will begin against the modern antitypeof Jerusalem, Christendom” (The Nations Shall KnowThat I Am Jehovah, 2nd ed. 1971, p. 216).43

Conclusion“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which causedivisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which yehave learned; and avoid them. For they that are suchserve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; andby good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of thesimple” (Romans 16:17-18).“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him thatcalled you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you,and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we,or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel untoyou than that which we have preached unto you, let himbe accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, Ifany man preach any other gospel unto you than that yehave received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9).“A man that is an heretick after the first and secondadmonition reject; Knowing that he that is such issubverted, and sinneth, being condemned ofhimself” (Titus 3:10-11).“But there were false prophets also among the people,even as there shall be false teachers among you, whoprivily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying44

the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselvesswift destruction. And many shall follow their perniciousways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evilspoken of” (2 Peter 2:1-2).“Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things whichwe have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrineof Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine ofChrist, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there comeany unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him notinto your house, neither bid him God speed: For he thatbiddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (2John 1:8-11)/___________________This book is published for free distribution in eBookformat. It is available in PDF, MOBI (for Kindle, etc.), andePUB formats from the Way of Life web site. The PDFedition is updated more frequently than the Kindle andPUB editions. See the Free Book tab - www.wayoflife.org.___________________The Jehovah’s WitnessesCopyright 2002 by David W. Cloud45